All-Natural Personal Care

More than 10,000 ingredients are used in personal care products. The United States cosmetic industry is valued at more than $50 billion and remains virtually unregulated. According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and its partnering organization, the Environmental Working Group:

One in five personal care products contain chemicals linked to cancer, 80 percent contain ingredients that commonly contain hazardous impurities, and 56 percent contain penetration enhancers that help deliver ingredients deeper into the skin.

To find out what's in the products you use, take a tour of EWG's Skin Deep Database.

Even the products sold in health food stores aren't necessarily pure and natural. Examples of brands with strict integrity include Aubrey Organics, Waleda, Autumn Harp, and Organic Essence.

But the good news is that with a few supplies and a little creativity, you can make your own personal care products. The possibilities are endless!

Supplies include:

• Glass or plastic spray bottles (available online or previously used, emptied, and cleaned well)
• Mason jars in all sizes (if using plastic tops, have a grease pencil on hand to label)
• Liquid Castile soap
• Glycerin
• Raw apple cider vinegar
• Herbs such as nettles, birch, comfrey, lavender
• Essential oils such as lavender, plumeria, tea tree, lemongrass
• Rhassoul clay

Recipes

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Shampoo:

1. Rhassoul clay is known historically to cleanse the hair and body. The clay binds with toxins, oils, and dirt and washes them away. Rhassoul clay is best used as a paste. Apply paste to wet hair, comb through, and rinse. Comb through again. Follow with a vinegar rinse. Rhassoul clay can be purchased at Mountain Rose Herbs. For other specific ideas on incorporating rhassoul clay into your hair and skin routine, see this website.
2. Soap nuts may be purchased and decocted to form a liquid soap suitable for shampoo. NaturOli is one source for purchasing soap nuts. To decoct, place a heaping handful of soap nuts in 4 c. water. Bring to boil and simmer for one hour. Place in mason jar or plastic bottle. Shake well before using. Store in refrigerator. Replace once a week.
3. Basic shampoo:
   
   • 10 oz. water or herbal water *
   • 1-2 oz. liquid Castile soap
   • 1 tsp. glycerin
   • 20-35 drops essential oil (tea tree oil can be effective for itchy scalp)
   If using plain water, place all ingredients in a mason jar and shake to blend. Shampoo as usual.
   
   * To make herbal water:
   
   
   Choose an herb such as birch, nettles, comfrey, or lavender. Place a handful of herbs in a mason jar. Cover with 2-4 cups boiling water. Cover and let steep for a minimum of 4 hours. Strain.
   
   
   Add 3-6 drops grapefruit seed extract to preserve for several weeks, or store in refrigerator.

The key to soft, clean hair is to restore the hair to its normal pH of 5.5 after washing. This can be done by exfoliating with coffee grounds, using Queen of Hungary water (see below) or plain raw apple cider vinegar as a rinse. Lemon juice can also be used. If using rhassoul clay, nothing else may be needed.

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Skin Care:

The key to healthy, vibrant skin is a healthy diet full of nutritious whole foods and essential fatty acids. (EFAs are of particular importance when eczema and hair loss are involved.)

To treat the skin externally, three steps are required: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. As with our hair, it is important to restore our skin to its natural pH of 5.5 after cleansing.

Cleansers:

1. Decocted soap nuts (see above). Best stored in refrigerator. Replace weekly.
2. Cleansing water. Mix 1/2 tsp. liquid Castile soap with 1 c. water in a mason jar. Shake before using. Stores indefinitely.
3. Gentled soap:
   
   • 1 oz. grated Castile soap
   • 3/4 c. distilled water
   • 1/4 tsp. honey
   • 1/2 tsp. glycerin
   • 5-10 drops essential oil such as rosemary or lavender
   For dry skin, add 2 tsp. avocado oil.
   
   Place Castile soap in water overnight to dissolve. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Dab with washcloth and wash as usual. Rinse with warm water.

Toners:

1. Witch hazel extract. This can be made by infusing witch hazel leaves (see above directions for herbal water).
2. Raw apple cider vinegar is an excellent toner.
3. Herbal astringent formula. Combine 1 c. herbal water (see above) with 2 tbsp. glycerin (or less) and 1/3 tsp. grapefruit seed extract. Shake and apply. Can be stored safely for several weeks or refrigerated longer.
4. Queen of Hungary water. This is a more elaborate toner, easy to make and full of medicinal qualities. This recipe is adapted from the book Better Basics for the Home:
   
   • 6 small handfuls lemon balm
   • 5 small handfuls calendula flowers
   • 4 small handfuls rose petals
   • 3 small handfuls comfrey
   • 1 small handful rosemary, lemon peel, and sage
   (Don’t worry if you don’t have all of these herbs; feel free to use what you have.)
   
   Place herbs in a gallon glass jar. (You can halve this recipe for a 1/2 gallon jar.) Cover the herbs completely in raw organic apple cider vinegar. Screw on lid tightly. Let sit for 4-6 weeks. Shake the jar several times a week.
   
   Strain the mixture. Combine remaining liquid with equal parts witch hazel extract. Rose water may also be used.
   
   Dab on face and massage into skin. Queen of Hungary water also makes an excellent rinse for hair. Can be stored indefinitely.

Moisturizers:

1. Homemade cream kefir mixed with lavender makes an excellent moisturizer. Kefir, as with any soured milk product, is loaded with lactic acid, which is one of the alpha hydroxy acids. AHAs stimulate collagen production, which makes the skin more elastic and appear more youthful.
   
   Cream kefir can be made by blending 1/4 c. homemade kefir and 2 c. raw or store-bought cream (avoid ultra-pasteurized). Allow to ferment for 24-48 hours, stirring several times. To learn more about kefir, see these previous posts on the Health Benefits of Kefir and How to Make Dairy Kefir.
2. Basic moisturizer. Combine 1/2 c. aloe vera gel with 1/8 c. glycerin. Stir to blend. Dampen face and massage onto skin. Stores for several months.
3. Flora De Mayo Cream (from the book Better Basics for the Home):
   
   • 1/2 c. aloe vera gel
   • 1/8 c. glycerin
   • 1/2-1 tsp. royal jelly
   • 1 tsp. plumeria flower essence (can use lavender essential oil)
   Combine in bowl, stir vigorously to blend. Dab on fingers and massage into face. Keeps for 6 months refrigerated.

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Deodorant:

1. Baking soda is an excellent odor neutralizer. Sprinkle a small amount of baking soda onto a damp washcloth and pat on the body. Make a baking soda spray by blending 3 tsp. baking soda with 1 c. water in a spray bottle. Add tea tree oil for added protection.
2. Queen of Hungary water (see above) can be applied with a cotton ball or spray bottle.

For recipes including a liquid deodorant spray using zinc oxide and an herbal stick deodorant, see this website.

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Tooth Care:

There are a myriad of ways to clean our teeth. Baking soda, coconut oil, bentonite clay, and peelu are a few of the ingredients used in natural toothpaste.

Author Stephanie Tourles offers this simple recipe in her book Organic Body Care Recipes:

• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. sea salt, finely ground
• 1 drop peppermint, spearmint, sweet orange, clove, or cinnamon bark essential oil
• A few drops tap water

Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix them thoroughly with a toothbrush, your finger, or a small spoon until a smooth, thick paste forms. The paste shouldn't be too runny; it has to stay on your toothbrush. Dip your toothbrush into the paste and use as you would regular commercial toothpaste.

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Lip Balm:

Lip balm is simple to make with a double boiler or fondue maker. A standard recipe uses carrier oil and beeswax. A few examples can be found at this website.

momsAWARE offers a specially formulated lip balm with natural, healing ingredients. Visit our Online Store to find out more.

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Transitioning to all-natural personal care products is a process. Allow yourself to make changes slowly. As you try one recipe, or choose a healthier product, you’ll enjoy a new sense of empowerment. You may just find a new glow on your skin and shine in your hair!

Below: A look at some of the ingredients and recipes outlined above, including a demonstration on making Queen of Hungary water.

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School Lunches

What will my kids pack for lunch? This was my most daunting question as we approached the start of the new school year. With our specific GAPS diet, a daily hot lunch seemed overwhelming. (See this previous post for more information on the GAPS diet.)

To my surprise, our system has worked! The kids look forward to their lunch and their friends say it smells delicious.

Each lunch is hot and consists of beef, chicken, or salmon, along with vegetables. I purchased stainless steel thermoses from Life Without Plastic. I fill each thermos with boiling water and let heat for a minimum of 15 minutes before filling.

Favorite meals include chicken and pepper stir-fry, salmon stir-fry, and beef "burritos," substituting lettuce for the tortilla.

Snacks consist of kale chips, beef jerky, or dried apple slices, all made in our dehydrator. I pack them in Ziploc bags lined with parchment paper. Here is the kale chip recipe:

Blend in food processor or high-powered blender:

• 1 red pepper
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 onion
• Beet greens, carrot greens, or any greens of choice (a couple of handfuls)
• 1 tsp. cayenne pepper

Add a small amount of water if needed to make a nice "paste" or "sauce."

Rinse approximately 8 cups of fresh kale. Gently tear off kale from stems and place in large bowl. Pour oil of choice (see below) into bowl and toss until kale leaves are coated. Add salt to taste (I use approx. 1 tablespoon). Mix. Add "paste" and mix with hands. If using a dehydrator, place kale on trays and dehydrate at 110 degrees for 4-12 hours. This can also be done in an oven at 200 degrees for 2 hours.

Suggested oils:

• Olive oil (olive oil must be heated at less than 250 degrees to avoid toxicity)
• Expeller-pressed coconut oil (no coconut flavor)
• Avocado oil

Store kale chips in glass jars until ready to pack.

I also keep several treats (ginger flaxseed crackers, energy bars, dehydrated strawberries) at school for the kids to have as an alternative when birthday treats are passed.

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Toxic Talk Alert! On Tuesday, September 20, I will be talking about all-natural personal care on the Chris Fabry Live! broadcast on Moody Radio. Tune in live at 2:00 p.m. Central time or listen via stream or podcast by clicking here.

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9/11's Toxic Dust and Health

The emotional ceremonies marking the 10-year anniversary of 9/11 offered a poignant portrayal of the countless ways this tragedy continues to impact lives. The following article addresses the health issues many children are facing who inhaled toxic dust from the aftermath of the attacks on New York City. One of the mothers featured in this story relied solely on her intuition to connect her children's health to the plume.

Mariama James was 8 1/2 months pregnant at the time. "My children were completely covered in dust, they couldn't escape it," she says of her son and daughter, then 9 and 6 years old. "I swept, I vacuumed, but you couldn't get rid of it, it was everywhere. It's like if you took pounds and pounds of chalk and chopped it up and rolled around in it for four days. ... You know that feeling when you hit two erasers together and breathe it in? This was like sticking the entire eraser down your throat."

Two years after the attacks her eldest daughter Armani, now 15, started experiencing chronic sinus infections, ear infections, throat infections, and a persistent cough. Soon after that all three of her children, including her newborn daughter, had a host of health conditions including asthma, chronic bronchitis, and acid reflux. They were seeing a pediatric pulmonologist once a month without fail and were missing school more than any child probably should. At one point, each child was on at least seven different medications.

"I initially came to the conclusion that my kids were sick from 9/11 on my own, but my pediatrician just didn't buy it at all," says James, adding that both of her older children were more or less healthy prior to the attacks. "I still love my pediatrician, but I only go to him for regular annual visits."

All of James' children are now being treated in the pediatric program at the World Trade Center Environmental Health Center, which operates out of Bellevue Hospital in New York City. A study based on the Dept. of Health and Mental Hygiene's WTC Health Registry cites that 25,000 children were either living or attending school in Lower Manhattan the day of the attacks, and projects that tens of thousands more "were in the path of the plume of building debris and smoke, close enough to inhale particulates and toxic substances."

Dr. Elizabeth Fiorino, a pediatric pulmonologist who joined the WTCEHC's pediatric program in 2009, says that the most common ailments she encounters in patients are upper and lower respiratory conditions, mostly asthma and allergic rhinitis. "We also see acid reflux disease and a variety of behavioral, learning and mental health issues," she says.

Kimberly Flynn, executive and co-founder of 9/11 Environmental Action, an activist organization that fought for proper cleanup of affected communities following the attacks, says that denial comes easily when it comes to health issues and 9/11. According to Flynn, "People don't want to admit they are sick, or admit that their children are sick. They have a hard time tolerating the idea that 9/11 is still with them."

When terrorists fly planes into buildings, we see the cause and effect. People die instantly or are caught in the collapse. It's more difficult to see the slow, gradual sickness that comes in the aftermath. Perhaps the tragic events that now mark a decade will help us awaken to the connection between environmental toxicity and health.

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Mycotoxins and Human Health

In the following video, Dr. Andrew Campbell provides a thorough explanation of the ways toxicogenic molds do harm to the human body. The full lecture is an hour and a half in length. Below is a summary of Dr. Campbell's main points and their respective locations in the video.



0:00:23 Dr. Campbell is an MD specializing in clinical immunotoxicology, which is the study of how toxins affect the immune system. His patients include those affected by chemicals, vaccines, and contaminated indoor environments.

0:01:57 Government figures show that in the 1950s, 75 percent of the air we breathed was outdoor air. Today, 94 percent of the air we breathe is indoor air.

0:05:37 We started making energy-efficient buildings in the 1970s. What happens when there is water intrusion in these buildings? Mold spores revive and multiply, releasing spores which carry mycotoxins, and these mycotoxins affect us. Bacteria also start growing (gram negative and gram positive) that release endotoxins. This mixture grows through drywall and hits paint or wallpaper glue, which results in a chemical reaction releasing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These organic compounds are, in and of themselves, toxic.

0:07:41 Mold is nothing new: Leviticus chapter 14.

0:12:40 There are 100,000 types of mold. Two dozen of them cause health problems in humans.

0:13:39 Mycotoxins have historically been used in biological warfare: yellow rain, Saddam Hussein, etc.

0:14:48 Mold spores will cause some trouble, but mycotoxins are like a bullet with molds as the gun. Mycotoxins are much worse.

0:15:47 Names of mycotoxins: trichothecenes, beta glucans, T-2 toxin, aflatoxins. One mold will produce a series of mycotoxins. The most toxic substance known to humankind—ahead of nerve gas—is aflatoxin B2.

0:17:54 An example of how severe mycotoxins are: A bank building is closed because of mold contamination. Three years later, when it's time to clean up the building, the building is opened. One would expect to see "critters": ants, spiders, flies, etc. Nothing is found. Except dead animals. This is the reality of mycotoxins.

0:18:55 What does this mean to humans? Humans have an immune system that protects us from "foreigners," which provides a barrier for us. What is the first thing mycotoxins do? Damage the immune system. If they can knock down the walls, they can get in and create havoc in the body. Mycotoxins are potent protein synthesis inhibitors.

0:20:50 What happens when our immune system is suppressed? We get sicker and take longer to heal. We catch viruses easily. Cuts take a long time to heal. We become overreactive to things like perfumes and fragrances. Our immune system starts fighting everything, including ourselves (autoimmune reactions).

0:23:06 What happens when we go to the doctor and autoimmune reactions show up? They put you on steroids—an immunosuppressant, so your suppressed immune system gets really suppressed. When you get off the steroids, the symptoms are still there. Steroids can cause a whole host of diseases. We must find out what caused the original problem.

0:30:16 What else happens to the human body after repeated exposure to mold/mycotoxins/VOCs? Fatigue. Not tiredness. Not laziness. Overwhelming fatigue.

0:32:42 The nervous system is also affected, which can result in depression. Doctors are telling you it's in your head. You're not able to enjoy pleasures in life. Demyelinating symptoms appear: muscle weakness, numbness, strange headaches, memory loss, confusion, getting lost in words, stopping in the middle of a sentence (aphasia).

0:39:48 Story of scientist Alexander Fleming, who left two petri dishes side by side one weekend—one containing penicillium mold, the other bacteria. When he returned, he found that the bacteria was dead. Thus the invention of penicillin, a derivative of mold. Immunosuppressants are derivatives of mycotoxins.

0:40:55 When you find moldy bread in your refrigerator, those are molds and bacteria feeding on that slice of bread. Molds release mycotoxins to kill off the bacteria, an example of the "survival of the fittest" principle.

0:41:46 A closer look at stachybotrys and trichothecenes. As shown by Dr. Strauss, mycotoxins are produced immediately. How bad are they? They're known to cause kidney cancer, esophageal cancer, leukemia, cancer of the liver, and testicular cancer.

0:43:27 Note that the medical literature from the 1980s shows a relationship between mycotoxins, molds, and health. Go to a doctor today and he doesn't know anything about it. Doctors today say mycotoxins can't cause these health issues.

0:47:40 The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website lists minimal health problems related to molds. However, for the mycotoxin trichothecene—a direct mycotoxin from mold only—they list the following: May be weaponized, dermal exposure leads to burning pain, oral exposure leads to vomiting and diahrrea, ocular exposure leads to blurred vision, inhalation leads to nasal irritation and cough, and systemic symptoms can develop with all routes of exposure. This can result in weakness, ataxia, low blood pressure, bleeding, and death.

0:52:10 Journal of the American Medical Association, August 2006: Fusarium—A New Culprit in the Contact Lens Case. People were treated for eye infections with antibiotic drops. The cause turned out to be a mold, so the antibiotics didn't help.

0:53:50 Other medical and scientific facts about mold/mycotoxins. From Atmospheric Environment, 1992: Over 500 VOCs have been described from fungi. The dominant VOC of molds is ethanol, which itself is a potent synergizer of many toxins.

0:59:17 Numerous studies cited, including one titled Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings. The study came out in 2000 by the United States Evironmental Protection Agency (EPA). The study gives the following safety guidelines for assessing mold: "Do not touch it with your bare hands. Do not get mold or mold spores in your eyes. Do not breathe these things. Consult Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Containment guidelines. Consider using PPE when disturbing mold. The minimum is an N-95 respirator, gloves and eye protection."

1:07:30 When you inhale these things for several months in a building or home and you move away, it makes you maybe 10-20 percent better, but you must repair what has been damaged. A latency period of 10-15 years is not unusual. Unless it is treated, it doesn't go away.

1:08:58 Comments about nutrition: All commercial chicken feed in the U.S. contains arsenic. Eggs that aren't natural are very different from those that are. Beef is injected five days before slaughter with DES, a female hormone. Jersey cows are injected with a female hormone to increase milk production. Children who have a cheeseburger Happy Meal and a milk shake are getting estrogenic disrupters, which may explain why we're now seeing girls age 8-10 developing prematurely. We have a prevalence of infertility. Men are eating estrogen in dairy products and beef, and we have an increasing rate of breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. Grains: In 1996 the Department of Agriculture announced to Congress that 98 percent of U.S. agricultural land was devoid of nutrients, due to overuse of fertilizers after World War II. We take all types of chemicals and spray them, then it rains, and they are sucked up by the roots and end up in fruits and vegetables—an average of 12 chemicals per produce item, of which 20 percent are known carcinogens.

1:16:20 A book written in 1986 by Bob Crook called The Yeast Connection. It was ahead of its time then, but is behind the times now. Yeast is mold. There are many species of candida, and candida can cause meningitis and pneumonia, and is potentially fatal.

1:17:52 In previous generations we ate fruits and vegetables only in season, and meat only on special occasions. Bread was a staple, as were dairy products and yogurt. In the last two generations we've begun taking antibiotics, which kill all bacteria, good and bad. The benefits of probiotics need to become better understood.

1:20:44 In 1999, the head of the Mayo Clinic's Ear, Nose and Throat department published an article reporting that the common cause of sinus infections—chronic runny, stuffy nose—was fungus. Of the 213 patients studied, 203 tested positive for fungus—a total of 96.8 percent. But if we go to a family doctor today, we're given an antibiotic, and the infection comes back. Why are doctors not aware of this study?

1:23:39 In 2006, the Canadian government made the recommendation to re-train every health care provider in Canada—doctors, nurses, dentists, physical therapists—to become aware of what a contaminated indoor environment can do. Why can't our government do the same thing? The Canadians are willing to re-train, and we bury our head in the sand.

Thanks to Lori Tondini, author of Are You Moldy?, for providing this video.

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Secondhand Scent

The number of individuals sensitive to fragrances is growing, according to this article titled Dangerous Fragrances. As many as 30 percent of people show some type of physical reaction to scented products—and for some, the reaction can be severe.

About five percent of individuals have such sensitivity to chemicals that it greatly diminishes their quality of life, says Claudia Miller, an environmental health and allergy expert at the University of Texas.

Professor Anne Steinemann at the University of Washington recently analyzed 25 of the most popular fragranced products, including air fresheners, fabric softeners, soaps, lotions and shampoo. She found that they emitted 133 different Volatile Organic Compounds. VOCs are gases that can affect both the environment and health.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, VOCs are 10 times more concentrated indoors than outdoors. In addition to personal care and cleaning products, they are released from paint, lacquers and glue. Steinemann found that one fourth of them were considered toxic or hazardous by federal law.

“When I started doing this research, I got hundreds of people wanting to tell me their story; it really resonated with people,” she says. “I knew it was a problem; I had no idea of how big of a problem it was.”

Steinemann has heard from fragrance sufferers worldwide. People have described seizures and asthma attacks from being around the products, she says. One woman was unable to be with her dying mother because her sister used scented hair products.

. . .

Steinemann calls the health effects of someone being exposed to scents not belonging to them or the products they own, “secondhand scent.”

“It is almost like cigarette smoke,” she says. “While people stopped going into places with cigarette smoke, people are now going to stop shopping in particular stores.”

That’s already happening.

In October 2010, Teens Turning Green, a student education and advocacy group, protested outside Abercrombie & Fitch’s New York store on 5th Avenue; they objected to the store’s excessive overuse of their fragrance, Fierce. The group stated that the fragrance is reportedly sprayed on all the merchandise and even pumped through the vents of the store.

The corporation responded on its Facebook page that its cosmetics are formulated, tested, labeled and monitored to assure regulatory compliance and safety.

In May 2010, the Environmental Working Group found that 17 popular fragrances, including Fierce, contained a variety of synthetic chemicals. The non-profit public health and environmental organization says that the fragrances included petrochemicals derived from petroleum and chemicals that can alter human hormones.

“It’s no surprise why people often feel ill around fragrances,” says Stacy Malkans, co-founder of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, another organization authoring the report. “They spray the stores down both inside the stores and outside the stores, without any notification or consent from people.”

The report, Not So Sexy: The Health Risks of Secret Chemicals in Fragrances, revealed that 38 chemicals were included in the 17 fragrances but undisclosed on the label. An average of 14 secret chemicals were included in each of the products.

The American Eagle fragrance Seventy Seven contained 24 chemicals unlisted on the label, the highest number of any of the fragrances tested. Chanel’s Coco had 17 and Abercrombie & Fitch’s Fierce for men had 11.

Concealing the chemicals that make up a fragrance is common.

The Federal Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1973 requires companies to list cosmetic ingredients but exempts fragrances. Many of them are protected as “trade secrets.”

“If companies were proud of their formulations and knew them to be safe, they wouldn’t hide their identities,” says Leann Brown, press associate with the Environmental Working Group. “We are not surprised that so much was missing from the label.”

Approximately 66 percent of the products not listed on the fragrances tested by the Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics were never assessed for safety, according to the organizations.

An average of 10 “sensitizing” chemicals or allergens were found in the 17 fragrances tested in the report. These chemicals can cause severe allergic reactions including asthma, wheezing and headaches, and are found in more than just perfumes or colognes.

. . .

“Sensitizing chemicals are those that can trigger allergic reactions,” says Malkan. “We have had many reports of people in stores who use these products who have had watery eyes, headaches and just can’t stand being in there.”

In 1999, the European Commission’s Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-Food Products released a list of well-known and frequently used allergenic substances. Europe requires that those substances be listed on all the labels of products when they exceed 10 parts per million. The United States has no such requirement.

Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gio contained 19 sensitizing chemicals, the most of any fragrance tested for the Not So Sexy report.

These chemicals are prevalent throughout the fragrance industry and included as ingredients in products such as laundry detergent, air fresheners and more, Steinemann says.

Twelve hormone disrupters, an average of four in each product, were also found in the fragrances tested in the Not So Sexy report. Halle by Halle Berry, Quicksilver and Jennifer Lopez’s J.Lo Glow all contained seven hormone-disrupting chemicals. The chemicals have been known to disrupt estrogen levels in women and androgen levels in men. Some are also linked to thyroid problems, breast and prostate cancer and obesity.

One of the most prevalent hormone disrupters discovered in the study was diethyl phthalate or DEP, a chemical known to cause abnormal genitalia in baby boys and sperm damage in adult men. It’s used to make the fragrance stick to the subject longer. The Environmental Working Group and the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics found DEP in 12 of the 17 fragrances tested for the report.

Recent research has also linked DEP to Attention Deficit Disorder in children, according to the Not So Sexy report.

To make fragrances last, manufacturers often add UV-absorbing chemicals found in sunscreens. When fragrances are exposed to sunlight and air, they can break down. UV-absorbing chemicals are used to prevent them from weakening.

But these chemicals are also particularly potent hormone disrupters. And approximately 76 percent of the fragrances tested in the Not So Sexy report contained at least one of them.

To read the article in its entirety, click here.

For more on Professor Steinemann's study, click here.

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